Mie Goreng: The Best Recipe For Indonesian Fried Noodles
Fried noodles are a staple food in Asian cuisine. You can make them as a main dish with your favorite side, or just have these tasty noodles as a side dish.
Indonesian fried noodles are deliciously salty and sweet egg noodles that are super quick and easy to make.
We explore what Mie Goreng is and how you can make the perfect Indonesia fried noodles at home.
What Is Mie Goreng?
The term “mie goreng” translates simply to “fried noodles” which is exactly what this tasty Asian dish is.
Mie Goreng is an Indonesian dish made with stir-fried noodles, such as ramen noodles or egg noodles, egg, cabbage, stir-fry sauce and some form of protein, such as chicken or prawns.
Mie Goreng is a staple dish in Indonesia where you can find it in restaurants as well as with street food vendors.
While fried-noodles are also served in high-end restaurants, it is typically considered a fast and easy street food.
There are also other variations of these fried noodles across other regions of Asia. For example, you can find “Mee Goreng” in Malaysia.
However, these fried noodle dishes are slightly different and have other ingredients added.
But that is the big advantage of fried noodles, such as Mie Goreng. You can adjust the recipe and add whatever you like.
Why Mie Goreng Is A Great Dish
There are so many reasons why Mie Goreng could become your next favorite Asian dish.
Ideal For Busy Weeknights
Mie Goreng only takes 15 minutes to make. Plus, you don’t need to use too many pots and pants which makes for a fast clean-up. This means that it is the perfect weeknight meal.
Feeds The Whole Family
Mie Goreng is loaded with plenty of vegetables and proteins. This doesn’t just make it healthy but it also allows you to make large portions to feed everyone around the table.
Healthier And Cheaper
Take-out meals are expensive and often loaded with calories. Indonesian fried noodles are much healthier and cheaper than take out food.
Plus, you can make it quickly at home.
Customizable
One of the biggest advantages with any fried noodle dish is that you can customize it as much as you like.
Turn your Mie Goreng into a vegan variation by using only plant-based ingredients. You can also add extra protein, such as tempeh or tofu.
If you prefer more veggies in your dish, then just add some extra leafy greens, such as Chinese broccoli or spinach.
Ingredients For Making Mie Goreng
You can make Mie Goreng with a variety of healthy ingredients.
The traditional fried-noodles recipe is made with chicken, shrimp or beef, but you can also make a vegetarian Mie Goreng with just eggs and vegetables.
Here are the key ingredients that we use in our Indonesian fried noodles recipe.
Noodles
The noodles are the main ingredient in this dish. There are no real limits on what type of noodles you can like, from dried noodles and instant noodles to fresh noodles.
Traditional Mie Goreng recipes use egg noodles of any size. However, you can use also use ramen noodles and any other noodles that you might light.
We take a closer look at the range of noodles that you can use for your fried noodles below.
Green Onions
Also known as scallions, green onions have a very mild onion taste that is perfect for stir fry. You can lightly fry or sauté scallions to get the right texture and flavor.
You can also use red onions or white onions as a substitute but the taste will be slightly different.
Garlic
Garlic is an essential ingredient in many dishes, including Indonesian fried noodles. It gives your dish the right flavor.
Cabbage
When it comes to adding vegetables, such as cabbage, to your fried noodles, you can use anything you like.
From Nappa cabbage to normal green cabbage, veggies don’t just make your fried noodles look and taste great but they also add some great health benefits.
Plus, vegetables in your dish are great to give your noodles some volume. You can also vary the amount of vegetables in your fried noodles easily.
Egg
Egg is a great source of protein but it’s not a must-have in a traditional Mie Goreng.
However, when you add egg to your noodles, you get small egg pieces that create some texture in your noodle dish.
If you don’t like egg, you can just leave it out or replace it with tofu or other egg substitutes. Using plant-based alternatives would also make this recipe vegan.
Stir-fry Sauce
The right type of sauce is essential for a great Mie Goreng. You need to mix soy sauce, ketchup, sesame oil and vegetarian oyster sauce with the Indonesia sweet soy sauce called Kecap Manis.
If you don’t have Kecap Manis to hand, then you can also use hoisin sauce or a mix of soy sauce and honey. Take a look at the Kecap Manis substitute section below.
Chicken, Beef Or Shrimp (Optional)
While our recipe is for vegetarian Mie Goreng, you can also make this recipe with meaty fried noodles.
The best meat options for Mie Goreng are beef, pork and chicken but you can also have shrimp and other seafood with your Indonesian fried noodles.
Tofu Or Tempeh (Optional)
If you prefer to keep your Indonesian stir-fried noodles vegetarian, then you can use either tempeh or tofu as plant-based alternatives to meat.
These soybean products don’t have their own flavor, so they pick up the flavor of your noodles and add some extra texture to your dish.
Vegetables (Optional)
In addition to the cabbage, you can add a variety of different vegetables to your noodles, from bean sprouts and red pepper to tomato, bok choy and mushrooms.
You can also add classic vegetables such as carrots or broccoli to your dish. Whatever veggies you prefer in your fried noodles work well.
What Noodles Can You Use For Mie Goreng?
If you wonder what noodles are best for Mie Goreng, then the simple answer is yellow wheat noodles.
This type of noodles is similar to what you would use for making Chinese fried noodles Lo Mein.
However, there are plenty of other kinds of noodles that you can use for your Indonesian Mie Goreng, from quick instant noodles to fresh noodles.
Here are all the noodle varieties that you can use for a tasty Mie Goreng.
Chow Mein Noodles
Chow Mein noodles are the most popular noodles for Mie Goreng. They have a great texture and you can get them in almost every grocery store.
Make sure that you check the label of your noodles to ensure that they are genuine chow mein noodles.
You can use either fresh chow mein noodles or get the dried version.
Rice Ramen Noodles
Rice noodles, also known as ramen noodles, are the best alternative for wheat or egg noddles as they are gluten-free.
You can cook them in a similar way and they taste almost the same as your normal Chow Mein noodles.
Instant Noodles
Instant noodles are the fastest way to make noodles. Just follow the instructions on the packaging and you will make some tasty noodles within a few minutes.
Plus, you can find instant noodles in every large chain grocery store around the country.
Spaghetti
There is no doubt that pasta, such as spaghetti noodles, aren’t the first choice for Asian noodle dishes.
However, if you only have spaghetti at home, then you can also use them to make Mie Goreng.
This being said, spaghetti won’t create exactly the same flavor as other noodles but you can taste more of the vegetables, protein and stir-fry sauce.
The Best Substitutes For Kecap Manis
For a traditional Mie Goreng, you will need the traditional Indonesian sweet soy sauce Kecap Manis.
This sauce is dark and thick, which makes it look like molasses. However, it is made with soy sauce, palm sugar and a variety of seasoning.
Also known as sweet soy sauce, Kecap Manis has a truly unique taste that makes your Mie Goreng a signature dish.
Kecap Manis is typically available at Asian grocery stores. Alternatively, you can also buy it online or make it yourself. Here is a super delicious Kecap Manis recipe.
However, if you don’t have any sweet soy sauce available or you don’t like the taste of it, then you can also use a range of delicious Kecap Manis substitutes.
Hoisin sauce is one of the best sweet soy sauce alternatives. It has similar flavors and works well in a Mie Goreng dish.
You can also mix honey with either dark soy sauce or regular soy sauce to create a Kecap Manis alternative.
If you don’t have honey available, then just blend equal parts of brown sugar and soy sauce.
This will create a beautifully sweet soy sauce that works perfectly as a Kecap Manis replacement.
Step-By-Step Guide On How To Make Mie Goreng
This vegetarian Mie Goreng only takes 15 minutes to make. Here is a quick tutorial on how to create the perfect Indonesian fried noodles.
Step 1: Prepare The Eggs
Before you start cooking Mie Goreng, you will need to prepare the eggs properly. Simply whisk your eggs together in a bowl.
You can take as many eggs as you like. How many eggs you will need for your Mie Goreng depends on the amount of noodles and vegetables you use.
Start off with one egg per person, and you can always prepare more of the egg if needed.
Step 2: Cook The Noodles
If you are using dried noodles or instant noodles, then it’s time to cook them. Just follow the instructions on the label and cook until they are tender.
Instant noodles typically only require some water and a couple of minutes until they are done.
On the other hand, dried noodles usually take around 5 to 10 minutes to cook properly, so make sure you cook them while you are preparing your egg and vegetables.
Step 3: Cook The Egg
Once you whisked your eggs together, put a small amount of vegetable oil into your pan and allow it to warm up on a medium-high heat.
After a minute, pour the egg into the pan and gently swirl it around. The egg should cover the entire base of the pan.
Then, allow the egg to cook for a couple of minutes on each side. Make sure to flip it over after two minutes or when the egg starts to brown.
If your egg pancake breaks while flipping, don’t worry about it. You will need to cut the egg later anyway.
Step 4: Cut The Egg
When your egg omelette is done, just remove it from the pan and cut it into small pieces. Then, put it aside for later.
Step 5: Make Your Fried Noodles
After you put the egg aside, pour some more vegetable oil into your pan.
Then add the cabbage, garlic and onions and allow everything to sauté on a medium-high heat for a couple of minutes.
Next, put the egg stripes or pieces into the pan, together with the cooked noodles. Make sure to mix everything well together.
Step 6: Add The Stir-Fry Sauce
You can now pour in your stir-fry sauce, and combine everything well together.
Step 7: Serve
Mie Goreng tastes best when it is still piping hot, so remove it from the stove and place the fried noodles on plates immediately.
You can then serve it with some sliced onions, lime or some chili flakes for extra spice.
Top Tips For The Perfect Fried Noodles
If you want to make the best Indonesian fried noodles, then here are a few things that you should look out for.
Use A Wok
You can make fried noodles in a pan but making it in a traditional wok can increase the flavor of your dish.
While not everyone has a wok at home, it’s a great way to add some more crispiness to your noodles.
Prepare Your Stir-Fry Sauce Ahead Of Time
It can take a couple of minutes to prepare your stir-fry sauce.
That’s why, it is a good idea to prepare it ahead of time, so you are ready when it comes to adding the sauce to the pan or wok.
Add Your Proteins Before The Noodles
Some proteins, such as chicken or tofu, need some time to cook, so add them in with your vegetables. Then pour in the noodles as a last step before adding the sauce.
Serve Hot
The only way to enjoy stir-fried noodles is piping hot, so make sure that you serve your Mie Goreng immediately.
If you allow your noodles to cool for too long, they end up clumping together.
How To Store Mie Goreng
You can store any leftover Mie Goreng in a sealed container. Make sure to place it into the refrigerator to keep it cool.
This being said, it’s best to store Mie Goreng noodles only for maximum 3 days. Then, the taste will start to change and you should dispose of the noodles.
Mie Goreng isn’t suitable for freezing, so ensure to cook only as much as you need.
How To Reheat Mie Goreng
The best way to reheat Mie Goreng is by stir-frying the noodles again over a medium heat. Alternatively, you can also put it into the microwave.
If you notice your noodles clumping together, then try adding some water while you reheat the dish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mie Goreng Healthy?
Yes, Mie Goreng is a very healthy dish which does not just taste great but it is also full of healthy vegetables.
What Flavor Is Mie Goreng?
Mie Goreng noodles are salty, sweet and savory. It also has a slight spicy taste that works well with noodles and vegetables.
What Can You Eat With Mie Goreng?
You can have Mie Goreng on its own as a full meal or simply serve it as a side dish. Mie Goreng works well with spring rolls, tofu and mango salad.
Final Thoughts
Mie Goreng stir-fried noodles are not just very healthy but they are also quick to make. It takes just 15 minutes to put this tasty Indonesian dish on the table.
Plus, you can adjust the recipe as much as you like, from vegan Mie Goreng with plant-based ingredients to meaty Mie Goreng with shrimps or chicken.
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